Transcript Good Jobs: How Important Are Credentials?

Cynthia Newhouse
EVT 7066
Fall 2008

To Enroll or Not to Enroll
◦ Most important decision for a U.S. worker
◦ Why?
 Educational Attainment:
 Plays critical role in labor market
 Impacts earnings, job opportunities, & overall job satisfaction
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Factors to consider
◦ Educational Trends
 Steady increase in number who complete some type of
college
◦ Labor Market Trends
 A fast-paced increase in number of jobs requiring at least
some college
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A “good” job
◦ Satisfies 3 needs:
 Extrinsic tangible rewards
 Intrinsic rewards
 Social relationships
Job satisfaction
◦ Determined by type and kinds of rewards received through
work
(O’Toole & Lawler, 2006)
Due to the nature of employment data, this presentation
focuses mostly on the extrinsic reward of salary/wages;
however, a truly “good” job with high job satisfaction
provides fulfillment of all three needs

The disparity between those with the least
amount of education and those with the most
amount of education.
◦ Continues to increase over time
 In 1979, those who completed college earned 1.6
times those who dropped out of high school
 In 2006, this rate rose to 2.5
Ages 25 or older
Only 1 out of every 20
people had earned a
college degree
Ages 25 – 64
32.6 % have earned a
bachelor’s degree
28% have some college
29.6% earned high school
diploma or GED
9.8% less than high school
diploma
1940
2006

On average,
Education,
Income
Having a Bachelor’s
degree or higher
yields almost 2 and
½ more than those
who have not
earned their high
school diploma
% of Labor Force ages 25 – 64
by level of educational
attainment over time
Compare: Some College
1970 – 11.8 %
2005 – 28 %
Projected growth in employment
between 2001 – 2014 based on
educational attainment
In 1970, 38.1 % of labor force 25 – 64 did
not have more than a high school
diploma
87% of
High-Growth,
High-Wage jobs
projected for
2004 – 2014
require at least
some college

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No!
Examples:
◦ Air Traffic Controllers earn $117,240 in median
annual earnings
 However, there are only 3 job openings expected
between 2006 – 2016
◦ Management positions
 Many do not require degrees, rather years of
experience can qualify you for the job
 Median annual earnings are $82,490
 However, 55.4 % of managers have at least a Bachelor’s
degree.
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One relative truth is that education does
decrease the likelihood of unemployment:
Occupation
Education
2006 Median Earnings
Registered Nurse
Associate’s degree
$57, 280 per year
Retail Sales Person
On-the-job training
$9.50 per hour
Customer Service Rep.
On-the-job training
$13.62 per hour
Food Prep. & Service Worker
On-the-job training
Varies
Office Clerks
On-the-job training
$23,710 per year
Personal & Home Care Aides
On-the-job training
$8.54 per hour
Home Health Aides
On-the-job training
$9.34 per hour
Postsecondary Teachers
Doctoral degree
$56,120 per year
Janitors & Cleaners
On-the-job training
$19,930 per year
Bookkeepers, auditors,
accounting clerks
On-the-job training
$30,560 per year
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The answer: It depends
◦ Depending on your interests, values, and skill sets,
you may be competitive and happy in the low-skill,
low-wage service industry
◦ There are a few industries, however specialized (i.e.
“Air Traffic Controllers”) and with relatively few job
openings, where you can earn good wages, do
meaningful work, and experience positive social
relationships.
◦ Trends, however, illustrate the growing number and
types of occupations which require at least some
postsecondary education
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Encourage informed decision-making
◦ Explore options
◦ Provide resources
◦ Create opportunities for reflection

Design curriculum accordingly
◦ Preparation for college-level work
◦ Preparation for trades, if interested
◦ Preparation for transition into work
 Promote “soft” skill development
 Provide real-world experiences when possible
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http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/report
/chapter1/main.htm
http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/herman/reports/futurework/report
/chapter2/main.htm
https://my.usf.edu/bbcswebdav/users/wblank/EVT%206661/Economic%2C%20De
mographic%20%26%20Employment%20Trends/Americas%20Dynamic%20Workforce
.pdf
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http://data.bls.gov/oep/servlet/oep.noeted.servlet.ActionServlet

http://www.careerinfonet.org/finaidadvisor/earnings.aspx?nodeid=21
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O’Toole, J. and Lawler, E. (2006). The New American Workplace.
New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.